How long is too long to breastfeed?

  • Friday, July 02, 2010 11:02 PM
    Message # 375573
    I have a 17 month old son and he still nurses at nap time, in the evening and through the night...I plan on extended breastfeeding but when does it go from extended breastfeeding to being the "weird lady that still breastfeeds her kid when hes too old?" How long did you or do you want to breastfeed and what is too old???
  • Sunday, July 11, 2010 7:50 AM
    Reply # 380366 on 375573
    I breastfed my girl until she was almost two. After she turned a year, I went back to full-time work so I had to wean her off for both our sakes. But I did nurse her in the morning and before bed. After a few months, I stopped the morning nursing. I was undecided whether to stop nursing before bed. She was sleeping through the night anyway and it was simply a comfort thing. We continued and pretty much stopped when I got pregnant with my second as it wasn't comfortable.

    I think both mom and child should continue nursing for as long as they want. I know parents who nursed their kids until three, and I've seen videos of moms nursing a six year old. Personally, I'd find it weird to be nursing past three. I knew I didn't want to be tandem breastfeeding when I had my second so that's another reason for ending the nursing with my first.

    Nursing may sometimes be a factor if toddlers don't eat enough of regular food or don't sleep well through the night. Then I would look at how I nurse my child (along with other factors of course).
  • Thursday, July 15, 2010 4:30 PM
    Reply # 383318 on 375573
    Thanks for sharing your story, Joanna.

    I've been wondering exactly the same thing, Kim!  I'm still breastfeeding my almost 2 year old and I'm happy about the decision to extend breastfeeding, but at the same time I don't want to become the lady who breastfeeds her 6 year old!  Already people give me strange looks if I tell them I'm still breastfeeding (which I usually don't) and I'm starting to tire of breastfeeding now, too.  So, I've limited the number of feedings and I will start weaning gradually, but I don't know how long it will be before he's completely weaned.
  • Thursday, July 15, 2010 6:28 PM
    Reply # 383372 on 375573
    I nursed my eldest until 19 months, my middle child until 27 months, and my third is still nursing, and will turn 2 on the 22nd of July.  I have no plans to wean her, and do not know at what age I would feel uncomfortable nursing her.  I guess there is a limit, but I don't feel that I have to figure it out in advance.  I think it will be something that we will just figure out, day by day together.  

    I weaned my firstborn because I had not had a period yet.  I wanted to get pregnant again, and thought the nursing was suppressing my ovulation.  He was very upset, and I feel that if I had it to do over again, I would let him decide when to wean.  

    I weaned my middle child because she had been nursing on dry breasts for 3 months, and I realized that I was literally cringing when she would approach me for a feeding!  She would have liked to continue indefinitely, but I just couldn't bear the pain any more!  I wish I had been able to re-lactate,but I didn't know how to go about it.  

    I would have liked to try tandem nursing, but I was ignorant in those days (my older two kids are now 18 and 15), and didn't know it was a possibility.  It seems like the first kids always suffer more for their parents' ignorance, and the younger ones benefit from their experience!
  • Friday, July 23, 2010 1:17 AM
    Reply # 388656 on 375573
    Good for you for breastfeeding and doing it this long! Give yourself a pat on the back. Most moms don`t make it this far. 

    Just breastfeed as long as you feel comfortable with it. Don`t worry you will want to stop before your child hits 6. 

    Good Luck. You will KNOW when its time. 

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